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Maternal and Child Health

Child Fatality Review Team

The state of Tennessee has a team of professionals designed to make accurate, thorough investigations of child deaths. The team is a multi-disciplinary collection of individuals from various occupations that affect child health and safety. The importance of such a team is to collect accurate information in every case of child death, so that a greater understanding can be reached as to the reason for such tragic fatalities, and to learn of any possible preventive measures that can be taken.

Members of the state team include:

  • Department of Health commissioner, team chairperson
  • Attorney General
  • Department of Children's Services commissioner
  • Tennessee Bureau of Investigation director
  • Physician (nominated by Tennessee Medical Association)
  • Physician credentialed in forensic pathology
  • Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation Commissioner
  • Judiciary member nominated by the Supreme Court Chief Justice
  • Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth chairperson
  • Two members of the Senate
  • Two members of the House of Representatives

The state-level committee reviews child death cases, and issues a state level report of findings.

Annual Child Fatality Reports

Local Child Fatality Review Teams

In order to better serve families, there are several localized CFR teams that investigate child fatalities. Representatives from various disciplines are chosen to aid communities in the child fatality review process.

Members of the local teams include:

  • Department of Health regional health officer
  • Department of Children's Services social services supervisor
  • Medical examiner
  • Prosecuting attorney appointed by the District Attorney General
  • Local law enforcement officer
  • Mental health professional
  • Pediatrician or family practice physician
  • Emergency medical services provider or firefighter
  • Juvenile court representative

Representatives of other community agencies serving children:

Each county is included in a judicial district, which determines each county's local CFR team. Click here to find your county's judicial district. Click here to see the map of judicial districts.